BKA

Medical abbreviation · Rehabilitation

BKA
Stands forBelow-knee amputation
CategoriesMedical

BKA stands for Below-knee amputation, a rehabilitation abbreviation.

Surgical removal of the leg below the knee, also called transtibial amputation, most often because of diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Preserving the knee greatly improves walking with a prosthesis.

Example: R BKA POD 10: residual limb shaping with shrinker, prosthetic referral.

Usage notes

Energy cost of walking is much lower with a below-knee than an above-knee amputation. Rehabilitation includes limb shaping, contracture prevention and prosthetic training. Patients are told not to rest the residual limb over a pillow, which can cause a knee flexion contracture.

More rehabilitation abbreviations

  • ADL – Activities of daily living
  • AFO – Ankle-foot orthosis
  • AKA – Above-knee amputation
  • AM-PAC – Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care
  • AROM – Active range of motion
  • BBS – Berg Balance Scale
  • BWSTT – Body-weight-supported treadmill training
  • CGA – Contact guard assist
  • CIMT – Constraint-induced movement therapy
  • CKC – Closed kinetic chain
  • COPM – Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
  • CPM – Continuous passive motion

See all 98 rehabilitation abbreviations →

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.